Bamber Bridge defender Matt Lawlor is expecting a fiery encounter this weekend when his team welcome Scarborough Athletic to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium.

The closeness in proximity of the two teams in the NPL First Division North table – Boro are in fourth spot, while Brig are one spot further back – already means a lot is resting on the outcome of the match.

I think it will be quite a tasty encounter tomorrow

But there will be extra spice added to the proceedings tomorrow due to the fallout between the two clubs after the last time they met.

It was in late November last year when Brig’s match away to Boro was abandoned due to a serious injury sustained by home skipper Chris Bolder.

Neil Crowe’s men were leading 1-0 at the time courtesy of a goal from Alistair Waddecar.

While concerned for the player’s welfare, Crowe and his assistant Neil Reynolds questioned the decision to call the game off.

They believed Bolder could have been safely removed from the pitch, allowing the game to continue.

Their protestations angered Scarborough officials and the club’s fans with many making their feelings known in the Press and on message boards.

And Lawlor believes the controversy surrounding that event will mean the visitors will arrive tomorrow fired up and in determined mood.

“The first match at their place was stupidly abandoned after about 35 or 40 minutes,” Lawlor said.